Wet dust collector and air washer



E. F. FISHER WET DUST COLLECTOR AND AIR WASHER Oct. 14, 1941..

Filed Jan. 19, 1939 WATER INLET DIRTY RIR INLET INVENTOR. f W i Patented ct. 14, Edi

WET DUST COLLEUEQR i.

ill WASEER Ernest F. Fisher, Boston, Mass. Application January 19,. 1939, Serial No. 251,751

3 Clas.

My invention relates to improvements in wet dust collectors and air washing units, wherein the cleaning effect is attained by subjecting dust or fume laden air to the continuous scrubbing action of water or other liquid which is set in violent agitation by the swirling air and caused to .wet large surface areas upon which particles of dust are caused to impinge out of the air current during the course of the air travel through the unit, thus separating the dust particles from the air and leaving the air clean.

This invention consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specifications and pointed out in the claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide more preliminary wetting of the dust particles carried by the incoming air as it enters the unit and before the dust laden air receives its final contact with the liquid.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new apparatus for introducing the washing liquid so that this liquid, after it does its preliminary washing of the entering air to relieve the air of the bulk of its load of dust and heavier material, may be used again to efiect a final washingof the air to remove the extremely fine particles of dust.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of guide and impingement vanes or surfaces of a unitary structure that is independent of coordinating bafiles and blades and that can be withdrawn as a unit from the enclosing chamber without hindrance from the coordinating bailles or other structural elements of the housing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of guide vanes, impingement surfaces and baiiies and enclosing walls that imposes the least resistance to the flow of dust laden air as it swirls in a continuous path without change oi direction and to provide a structure that will facilitate fabrication and-assembly, thus lowering the cost of this equipment to the purchaser.

Other advantages of my invention will be better apparent from a detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing. in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross section. Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical cross section only of the axial tube with its baflles and vanes taken tial inlet it for delivering dust laden air to the unit and a water distributing means It and (16 The circular chamber 2 is separated near the top just under the tangential inlet it from the rest of the" chamber below by means of the conical hopper, as collector i, from which is suspended the axial tube assembly T by means of brackets ii and i2 and the companion flanges 8 and El, leaving the top of the axial tube T and the bottom opening ofhopper, or collector, i spaced apart at It to permit water that flows down the hopper, or collector, I to flow therethrough and fall upon the uppermost sloping baflle 5 which is a part of the axial tube assembly T. The water then falls at? the edge of this baiile through the concentric clearance 3 between battle 5 and blade ring it and so on downward. through the various clear-= ances 3 therebelow as hereinafter described.

The space It between axial tube T and the bottom outlet of hopper, or collector, i can be made wider or narrower by means of the band it which is moved upor down thereby increasing or decreasing the space IS and thus regulating the flow of water therethroush and permitting the balance to continue down the axial tube T. The water flows through the slot i3 readily because of a negative pressure that will exist in the space surrounding the axial tube.

In the operation of my unit, dust or fume laden air enters'the tangential inlet It. This swirling air meets the water falling from pipes I6 and swirls it violently outward by centrifugal force against the wall 2 and against which the heavier dust particles impinge. This dust is washed downward with the swirling air through the axial tube T to the swirl or expansion chamber ill and collects in the hopper, or collector, t as sludge and is discharged through the opening 2i, along with the fine dust that is washed down from the bladed sections above.

The swirling air in chamber ii throws the water falling from edge of baflle 6 and from the axial tube T outwardly by centrifugal force to the wall 2 thereby keeping the wall continuously wet.

The swirling air continues upward and is guided by the curved blades l8 surrounding the axial tube T into the annular space A, surrounding the bladed sections it and It. As the air swirls on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. This 1 th through the blades It, the water falling through bly T shown in place in Figure 1 in cooperative relation with the baflles and vanes of housing 2.

Referring again to the drawing, my improved dust collector and air washer comprises a vertithe annular space 8 between blade ring 20 and baifle ring 5, is carried through the blading i8 and copiously wets their surfaces and the adjacent wall 2. This water then falls on baiile rin cal circular chamber 2 with'a cover It, atangen- 6. Fine dust continues to impinge on these wetted surfaces and is washed down into hopper 3.

The swirling, spiraling air in annular space A is guided by the curved blades it into annular space 13 surrounding the axial tube T. The water falling from edge of baiiie 6 is carried through the blading i8 copiously wetting their surfaces and the outer wall I of axial tube T. As the air continues to swirl in chamber B it is directed by the curved blades i8 into chamber carrying through the blading i8 the water that falls from edge of baflle Hand copiously wetting the surface or the blades and adjacent wall 2 upon which more fine dust impinges. The air continues spiraling upward without change of direction, through the successive rows of bladin i8 and iii until it reaches annular space E freed from dust and is discharged at clean air outlet it.

This apparatus is an improvement on the device shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 222,906, filed August 3,1938.

What I desire to claim, in the present application is:

1. A gas-cleaning apparatus comprising in combination a casing provided at the topwith a tangential inlet, a collector below said inlet which creates an upper and lower compartment, an outlet provided in said casing below said collector, a vertical tube depending from said collector, a substantially horizontal ring-shaped baiiie surrounding and attached to said tube, another substantially horizontal ring baflle attached to the inner wall of said casing below said outlet in staggered relationship to said first mentioned baflle, circularly disposed vertical swirl-producing vanes extending between said battles and supported by one of said baiiies, a blade ring attached to the free ends of said vanes, means to supply liquid within the casing and above said collector, and an opening provided in the wall of said tube to allow said liquid to drain over the outer surface 01' said tube, thence downwardly and over the surfaces of the attached baiiie and said vanes.

2. A gas-cleaning apparatus comprising in combination a casing provided at the top with a tangential inlet, a collector below said inlet which creates an upper and lower compartment, an outlet below said collector, a vertical-tube open at both ends supported in spaced relationship to said collector, superposed substantially horizontal ring-shaped baiiies surrounding and attached to said tube, superposed substantially horizontal ring-shaped baiiies attached to the inner wall of said casing below said outlet in staggered spaced relationship to said first-mentioned baiiles, circularly disposed vertical swirl-producing vanes extending between each pair of oppositely staggered baflies and supported upon all but the topmost of said bames, means for supplying liquid at the top of said casing so that portions of said liquid will fiow through said space between said tube and said collector over the outer surface of said tube and down between said spaced 1 vanes, battles and plates;

3. Apparatus as'in claim 2 in which said swirlproducing vanes are arranged so that each set produces rotational movement opposite in direction tothat of the adjacent set.

ERNEST F. FISHER. 

